2020-7-3
Wood/Plant material;Feather;Sinew;Metal;Human-made;Animal materials
Width: 1"
Length: 32"
1" wide with feather
1" wide with feather
19th century
Alutiiq
Gift of the Estate of Bob Ellis, 2020. Ownership History (most recent first):1. Bob Ellis estate (Jane Ellis, executor), 2019-2020. 2. Bob Ellis (surviving husband of Calvin) 2001-19 3. Natasha Calvin estate (Bob Ellis executor) 2001-19. 4. Natasha Calvin (granddaughter of A.P. Kashevaroff) ? - 2001. 5. Sasha Calvin (daughter of A.P. and Martha Bolshanin Kashevaroff, ca 1940-?. 5. Andrew P. Kashevaroff estate, 1940-? 6. Andrew P. Kashevaroff, ? 1940.
Arrows of this type have been collected at Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, Kodiak Island, and the Aleutians, and presumably used by the Unangax, Sugpiaq and Alutiiq.
This arrow is probably part of a set of six similar arrows (2020-7-1 to 3, 2001-10-14 to 16), and a bow (2001-10-13) from the estate of Andrew P. Kashevaroff.
Of this type of arrow, O.T. Mason wrote: “This is the most elaborate and ingenious arrow known, and all of its parts, in every specimen, are most delicately finished.” Otis Tufton Mason, North American Bows, Arrows, and Quivers. Smithsonian Report, 1893, plate LIX
An arrow with detachable point of the type used for hunting sea mammals, particularly sea otters, as late as the early 20th century. The shaft is wood, and attached to a bone foreshaft with an elaborate joint. A detachable copper point with three barbs is snugly fitted on the end of the foreshift. At the opposite end, the wooden shaft is stained red, and tapers slightly where the fletching is attached, then flairs out again for the bell-shaped nock. Three feathers, brown and white, symmetrically trimmed, are affixed to the shaft with fine threads. A single continuous piece of twine is used for lashing down the fletching, and wrapping around the joint between the shaft and foreshift. A separate, finely braided sinew line connects through a hole in the back of the point, is wound along the arrow shaft, and after a distance splits into two ends, which are tied at separate points on the shaft. The end of the line closest to the point has tufts of red yarn (?) worked into the braid to form a sequence of dashes. When the point detaches, and the line played out, the line forms a "Y" and the arrow shaft pulls sideways behind the fleeing otter, to serve as a drag. “When the arrow is shot, the barb enters the flesh of the otter, the loose fastening is undone, the line unrolled, the foreshaft drops into the... [water]; the shaft acts as a drag and the feathers as a buoy to aid the hunter in tracing the animal” Otis Tufton Mason, North American Bows, Arrows, and Quivers. Smithsonian Report, 1893, plate LIX